Mothers-to-be 'should stop drinking altogether'

By JAMES CHAPMAN and IAN DRURY

Last updated at 23:02 08 November 2007


Women who are pregnant or trying for a baby should give up all alcohol, the Public Health Minister suggested yesterday.

Dawn Primarolo said the best way to end confusion could be to adopt the approach taken in the U.S. and tell expectant mothers to avoid drinking altogether.

She told the Commons Health Select Committee: "Maybe we should go to a precautionary principle with recommendations to women who are pregnant or trying to conceive - which the Americans do - which is to just say, 'Don't'."

Her intervention contradicts the latest advice from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, which draws up public health guidance for the Government.

Last month it issued draft guidelines which said enjoying a small glass of wine a day during pregnancy is safe.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists backed the stance, saying there was no clear evidence that small amounts of alcohol could harm the unborn foetus.

But Miss Primarolo pointed to the advice of the Government's chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson, who said in May that pregnant women and those trying to conceive should not drink.

Kevin Barron, the Labour chairman-of the select committee, protested that women were being sent confusing messages.

But Miss Primarolo said NICE would soon issue further advice based on the latest studies.

Some doctors say there is evidence that even very small amounts of alcohol can damage the health of the unborn child.

Dangers include foetal alcohol syndrome, which affects around 100 babies a year, causing low birth weight, flattened features, heart and kidney abnormalities, deafness and brain damage.

In addition, as many as 7,000 British babies a year are affected by the less serious foetal alcohol spectrum disorder, which causes attention deficit disorder, hyperactivity and poor co-ordination.

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